Classifying apparatus for coal, ores, and other materials.



mums. -CLASS|FY|NG APPARATUS FOR COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED APILZG. 19I6.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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F. BLANC.

CLASSLFYING APPARATUS FOR COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-26, l9l6- I Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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FRANCOIS BLANC, OF ST.ETIEI TNE, FRANCE.

GLASSIFYING APPARATUS FOR COAL, ORES, AND OTHER MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1316.

Application filed April 26, 1916. Serial No. 93,764.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCOIS BLANO, mining engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at 38 Rue Balay, St. Etienne, Loire, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Classifying Apparatus for Coal, Ores, and other Materials, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that class of apparatus for sorting or classifying materials according to their difference in Weight or density, wherein the materials to be treated are subjected to the action of centrifugal force.

Reference is more particularly made to the construction of apparatus described in United States patent granted to F. Blanc under date of August 11th, 1903, No.735,855, wherein the material, as it passes through a series of channels, is caused to separate into two paths of travel by the action of a projection suitably arranged in the channel.

The present invention consists of improvements upon the abovementioned kind of apparatus.

One object to be accomplished is to enable the apparatus to be adjusted at will according to the nature of each particular material to be treated.

Another object is to allow the material separated in the apparatus to accumulate therein instead of being permitted to leave the apparatus as fast as it is separated.

Another object is to reduce the Wear and tear of the vanes to a minimum.

Broadly speaking, the first-named improvement consists in providing each of the vanes of the apparatus with a projection or beak, the position of which relatively to the cross-sectional area of the channel may be readily adjusted, so as to enable the apparatus to be regulated according to the kind of materials to be classified.

The second-named improvement consists in providing the portion of the vane which is most subject to friction by the material being treated, with a surface adapted to stand wear and tear under the best possible conditions, in addition to which the said surface is so arranged that it acts to check or cushion the live force of the particles as they pass toward the projection or beak above referred to.

The third-named improvement consists in providing a bowl wherein the separated material is collected or accumulated until the bowl is full, whereupon the apparatus can be stopped for the removal of the said material, the object being to retain the latter in the apparatus instead of allowing it to es cape and thus preventing theft in cases where the material is a valuable one.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present improvements.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the main parts of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a separate view of the pair of disks. Fig. 3 shows the face of one disk on a plane pass ing along III, III Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 1 is a section along IV, IV, Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. Figs. 5 and 6, on a larger scale, show two arrangements of wearing plates.

As in prior constructions, the apparatus comprises the usual casing 1, Fig. 1, through the center of which passes a shaft 2 upon which is fastened a disk 3. To the disk 3 is suitably fastened a disk 4, which may bear by means of its hub against the hollow hub of the casing 1. It is also provided with the inlet 5 for the raw materials to be treated, the outlet 6 for the heavy constituent separated from the said material, the volute 7 and outlet 8 for the light constituent, the regulating valve 9, the pressure gage 10 and the draw-off cook 11, all of which parts may be of any usual approved form.

In the face of the disk 4: lying against the disk 3, Figs. 2 to 5, are formed the usual series of channels 12 and the usual series of holes 13, the number of which is equal to that of the vanes. In close proximity to each hole 13 is arranged an adjustable member 14 which may assume the form of a beak or projection, the purpose of which is hereinafter explained and which may be fastened in its adjusted position to the disk 4 by a screw 15 or other suitable means. The said member 1% is formed with an edge 14:" which is directed toward the current of materials under treatment passing through the vanes and compels them to follow two difierent paths of travel, as hereinafter explained.

The disk 4: is formed, on the face opposite to the channels 12, with a bowl or an nular trough 16 into which collects the heavy constituent separated from the raw material, as shown at 17, Fig. 1. The capacity of this bowl may be predetermined so as to correspond, for instance, to a given volume of the heavy constituent produced by the classifier per days work for a given material. In cases where separated material is a valuable one, it is allowed to accumulate for say one day, so as thus to enable a superintendent to be present at the time the bowl is being emptied of its contents and thus guard against theft.

The side-wall of the channels 12 which is exposed to the friction of the particles subjected to the action of centrifugal force is liable to a certain amount of wear and tear. In order to reduce the wear to a minimum, the said wall may be lined with a suitable resisting material. The material to be used will vary according to the nature of these particles. Thus extra hard steel may be used in some cases and rubber in others. By way of an instance 18, Fig. 3, shows the plate as embedded into the side wall of the channel 12, its length being so chosen as to cover more or less of the surface of the said Wall, as may be desired. It may be fastened in place by any suitable means, as for instance by a clove-tail joint 19. The exposed face of the plate may be smooth, but it is found desirable to corrugate it in order that the corrugations or indentations may act to deaden the live force of the particles of material prior to their reaching the adjusted member 14. By way of an instance, the plate may be formed with semicircular grooves 20 at right angles to the disk, as shown on a larger scale in Fig. 5 or with ridges 21, Fig. 6. The nature of these corrugations will be made to vary according to the coarseness or fineness of the particles contained in the materials to be classified.

The operation is as follows: The raw material, for instance water containing in suspension the substances to 'be classified, is fed at 5 and is led to the series of channels 12 wherein it is subjected to the action of centrifugal force, it being assumed that the disks 8, l revolve in the direction of the arrow at in Fig. 3. The light particles in suspension in the water, progressing inside the channels in the direction of the arrows, meet the members 14 and then, subdividing at that point, follow two distinct paths of travel: the light particles to the left and the heavy particles to the right'of the edges 14. The light particles thus leave the channels at the same time as the water and reach the volute 7, whence they escape through the outlet 8 while the heavy particles, checked or stopped by the members 14, as well as by the wearing plates 18, are compelled to move toward the holes 13 vthrough which they pass and then accumulate in the bowl 16. When the bowl is full,

the apparatus is stopped and the contents of the bowl removed, or the apparatus is allowed to go on operating, in which case the separated constituents may escape through the outlet 6 and be received in the usual way.

It will thus be understood that the hereindescribed construction of apparatus affords three distinct and independent means of regulation, viz: the speed, the output and the members 14. The variation in speed may be obtained by means of the driving engine. The output can be determined at will by adjusting the delivery valve 9. The members 14 may be adjusted very easily and within wide limits.

Claims:

1. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, a wheel therein provided with vanes, a projection fitted adjustably to each vane, a hole adjacent said projection and a deposit chamber, substantially as set forth.

2. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, a wheel therein provided with vanes, a projection fitted in each vane, a hole adjacent said. projection, a deposit chamber and a wearing plate fitted on each vane.

3. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials comprising a chamber, a wheel therein provided with vanes, an adjustable projection fitted in each vane, a hole adjacent said projection, a deposit chamber and a wearing plate fitted on each vane.

4:. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, a wheel therein provided with vanes, an adjustable projection fitted in each vane, a hole adjacent said projection, a deposit chamber and a serrated wearing plate fitted on each vane.

5. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials comprising a chamber,

a wheel therein provided with vanes, a projection fitted in each vane, a hole adjacent said projection, a deposit chamber and a serrated wearing plate fitted on each vane.

6. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, coniiprising a chamber, a pair of disks mounted face to face in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its face adjacent to the other disk, and an equal number of holes, an adjustable projection mounted on the disk in close proximity to each hole, and a deposit chamber connecting with said holes.

7. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, a pair of disks mounted face to face in said chamber, a number of channels cut in one of said disks, a projection mounted in each of said channels, a hole in said disk being made in close proximity to each projection, and a wearing plate fitted in the face of each channel exposed to wear and tear.

8. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, two disks mounted with their faces in contact in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its contact.- ing face, an adjustable projection adjacent each channel, said disk having a hole near each projection in communication with a deposit chamber.

9. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, two disks mounted with their faces in contact in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its contacting face, an adjustable projection adjacent each channel, said disk having a hole near each projection in connection with a deposit chamber, and wearing plates fitted on the surface of said channels exposed to wear and tear.

10. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, two disks mounted with their faces in contact in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its contacting face, an adjustable projection fitted in each channel, said disk having a hole near each projection in connection wit-h a deposit chamber, and serrated wearing plates fitted on the surface of said channels exposed to wear and tear.

11. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, two disks mounted with their faces in contact in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its contacting face, a projection fitted in each channel, a hole formed in said disk near each projection and a bowl or annular trough formed on said disk for accumulating one of the constituents separated from the material under treatment.

12. A classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, comprising a chamber, two disks mounted with their faces in contact in said chamber, one of said disks having a number of channels cut in its contactmounted with their faces in contact, channels formed in one disk, means for revolving the disks, means for feeding the materials to be treated, a bowl or annular trough formed on one disk for collecting one of the constituents separated from said materials and means for delivering the other constituents.

14. In a classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, a rotative disk having channels formed therein and projections adjustably mounted in said channels, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a classifying apparatus for minerals and other materials, the combination with a wheel provided with vanes, of a wearing plate on the surface of each vane subject to wear and tear.

16. A separating device for centrifugal machines, comprising, in combination, a member provided with radially extending channels, and means mounted in said channels adapted to permit of the regulation of the device according to the kinds of materials to be classified.

17. A separating device for centrifugal machines, comprising, in combination, a rotative disk provided with radially extending channels, and projections fitted in each of said channels, said projections being adjustable relatively to the cross-sectional area of the respective channels.

18. A. separating device for centrifugal machines, comprising, in combination, a rotative disk provided with radially extending channels, and adjustable projections fitted in each of said channels to permit the apparatus to be regulated according to the kinds of materials to be classified.

19. In a device of the character described, in combination, separating mechanism comprising a rotative drum having radially extending channels, said channels adapted to have materials pass therethrough under the influence of centrifugal force, means in said channels adapted to retard movement of materials of predetermined character there through, and means to prevent said last mentioned materials from passing through said channels.

FRANCOIS BLANC.

Witnesses J. DODEREY, CLAvnL PIERRE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

